The Karen People

DCTC welcomes Karen Organization of Minnesota to campus

Dakota County Technical College hosted a welcoming event for the Karen Organization of Minnesota Wednesday, November 28, 2018, in the Dakota Room on the college’s main campus in Rosemount, Minnesota. Participants learned about the rich history of the Karen people while celebrating the Karen cultural heritage. More than 20 Karen students are completing the Automotive Technician program at the college, and the event acknowledged their contributions to the DCTC community.

Harold Torrence, business management faculty, reported that the college’s Multicultural Student Leadership Association (MSLA) helped make the celebration possible. Ana Kharkural, MSLA president and Student Senate vice president, was an instrumental member of the event planning committee. Harold serves as MSLA faculty advisor.

“It was wonderful how our automotive students and faculty came together to learn more about the Karen people, culture, customs and history,” Harold said. “Our MSLA leaders also participated. More than one hundred students attended the event.”

“St. Paul, Minnesota, is home to one of the largest Karen communities in America. More than 17,000 Karen have resettled in St. Paul since the early 2000s.”

Harold added that students, staff and faculty engaged the Karen Organization of Minnesota presenters during an informative question-and-answer session.

“That resulted in shaping a better collective understanding of the cultural background and human experiences of our Karen students,” he said. “I was impressed by how our faculty wore their Karen attire proudly and how they were willing to learn about our students’ stories and challenges.”

“The Karen students bring new perspectives and ideas to our program, and we are glad to have them as part of our family.”

— Jeff Copeland, Automotive Technician Faculty

“They are a delightful group of students,” Xuong said. “As part of our work on the Equity and Inclusion Council, we make sure our Karen students are involved on campus and have opportunities to share their culture with our college community. TRIO SSS works with our Karen students so that they have the help they need with financial aid, planning their classes and testing. They in turn refer other students to TRIO. It’s a great partnership for success.”

Jeff Copeland, automotive technology faculty, really enjoys having Karen students in his program. “These young men are very polite and eager to learn,” he said. “They have excellent attendance and work very hard to complete their assignments on time. Our program can be very challenging at times as many of them are still developing English reading and writing skills.”

Jeff noted that teaching students with diverse cultural backgrounds requires flexibility and innovation. “As instructors, we have had to modify many of our teaching methods to aid them with understanding the often difficult technical content,” he said. “The Karen students bring new perspectives and ideas to our program, and we are glad to have them as part of our family.”

About the keynote speaker, Eh Tah Khu

Eh Tah Khu

Eh Tah Khu serves as co-executive director of the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM). Eh Tah Khu joined the organization in 2011 as a youth development coordinator and was promoted to Youth and Social Services program manager in 2013. He was appointed to his current role by the KOM Board of Directors in February 2016.

As co-executive director, Eh Tah Khu primarily focuses on program management, operations and community engagement. He is also a visible leader in the Karen community in St. Paul through his active participation with KOM and Ebenezer Karen Baptist Church.

Eh Tah Khu was born in Burma, but due to political conflict he moved as a refugee to Thailand, where he earned a four-year degree from Kawthoolei Karen Baptist Bible School and College. After graduating from college, he taught for two years and helped manage multiple schools under the Burmese Migrant Workers Education Committee. He came to Minnesota as a refugee with his wife and son in 2010. Eh Tah Khu became a U.S. citizen in 2015.

Karen People Celebration gallery

More about the Karen people ¹

Migration to Burma

There are few written records of the Karen origin story. The Karen people began to inhabit what eventually became Burma about two thousand years ago. They traveled from Tibet and China and settled largely in the hills bordering the eastern mountainous region of Burma.

In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Burmese also began migrating to the area north of what is now the Karen state. Ethnic groups around this region included the Mon, Shan, Thai, Burmese and Karen. When the British colonized Burma in 1886, these groups all became part of Burma. Read more…

Resettlement to Third Countries

Some Karen refugees have been able to resettle in the United Sates, Australia, Canada, England, and Norway. Whether they plan to become citizens, or whether they hope to return to their homelands, adjustment to a third country can be very challenging.

Learning a completely different language is the biggest barrier that refugees face when starting new lives in a third country. Many refugees are also not familiar with things that we take for granted, such as transportation, winter weather, and even something as basic as how to use an oven or a refrigerator. Read more…

“When we came to Minnesota, our family vehicles would break down and cost a lot of money to repair,” Kwee said. “I learned how to repair cars to help out and save my family money. Becoming an automotive technician is my way to give back to the Karen community.”

Kwee has seven siblings, four brothers and three sisters. He’s the middle child. He also has a big brown dog he loves named Tiger. When he’s not studying or working, Kwee enjoys spending time with his family and cooking meals for them.

Three words that describe you as a college student:HARDWORKING. AMBITIOUS. SKILLED.

Kwee Wah | Q & A

What’s one thing every technical college student should know?To get a good career you need to go to college.

What do you like best about the Automotive Technician program?I like working with my hands. Our shop area gives us a lot of space to work.

Why did you choose automotive maintenance and repair as your career field?I like working on cars and it’s a great way to help the people in my community.

What is your favorite make and model motor vehicle?Mitsubishi Evolution

What one word best describes your experience at DCTC?FRIENDLY.

Kwee Wah | 12 Answers

Favorite sport or physical activity: Soccer

Place you would most like to visit: Kayin (Karen) State

The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Joined the Automotive Tech program

Your personal motto if you had to have one: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Favorite all-time TV show: Family Guy

Favorite all-time movie: N/A

One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Become a master tech

Most valuable material possession: Karen culture

Dream occupation: Helping other people

Person you would most like to meet: Saw Ba U Gyi, first president of the Karen National Union

Skill you would most like to learn and master: Diagnose automotive problems

Like his classmate Kwee Wah, Kaw is a graduate of Washington Technology Magnet School in St. Paul. He also works while going to school as an automotive tech at Apple Ford Lincoln. Like Kwee, he belongs to TRIO SSS.

“I didn’t know anyone when I came to Minnesota,” Kaw said. “Thanks to DCTC and the Automotive Tech program, I have new friends and a future career.”

Kaw has two older sisters. In his free time, he likes playing videogames. He favorite game at the moment is Fortnite.

Three words that describe you as a college student:PUNCTUAL. RESPECTFUL. HELPFUL.

Kaw Htoo | Q & A

What’s one thing every technical college student should know?Study hard.

What do you like best about the Automotive Technician program?You get to know about cars and people.

Why did you choose automotive maintenance and repair as your career field?When I was 17, I built my own car.

What is your favorite make and model motor vehicle?2018 Ford Mustang (Kaw owns a black one.)

Featured Posts

Send News Now

If you have news, breaking stories, stories about students, faculty, staff, alumni or programs, event info or just something noteworthy that you would like posted on DCTC News, please contact Chris Hayes at 651-450-3517 or chris.hayes@dctc.edu.